| West Papua National Liberation Army | |
|---|---|
|
Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata Participant in Papua conflict | |
 Flag of the Free Papua Movement | |
| Ideology |
Papuan nationalism Anti-colonialism Anti-imperialism |
| Leaders |
|
| Part of | Free Papua Organization |
| Opponents |
 Indonesia |
| Battles/wars | Papua conflict |
The West Papua National Liberation Army (Indonesian language: Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat; abbreviated as TPNPB), officially referred to in Indonesia as the Armed Criminal Group (Indonesian language: Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata,[1] abbreviated as KKB), and after 2021, Separatist Terrorist Group (Indonesian language: Kelompok Separatis Teroris, abbreviated as KST [2]), is a Western New Guinean insurgent group in Indonesia. It is the armed wing of the Free Papua Organization.[3]
It has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.[4]
Leadership[]
In December 2012, the Free Papua Movement appointed Goliath Tabuni as the head of the TPNPB-OPM, Gabriel Melkizedek Awom as Lt. General, and Terianus Satto as the Chief of Staff.[5]
The organization is distinct from the West Papua Revolutionary Army or West Papua Army (WPA) under Damianus Magai Yogi, affiliated with United Liberation Movement for West Papua and Benny Wenda.[6]
Tactics[]
The TPNPB employs guerilla tactics to attack and destroy industrial buildings as a rejection of Indonesian-led development. In the attacks, they use machetes, bows and arrows, axes, and limited numbers of revolvers and rifles.
Actions[]
2018 Nduga massacre[]
On 1 December 2018, the TPNPB shot at construction workers, which the TPNPB believed them as military personnel disguised in civilian attire in the Nduga Regency, Papua (now in Highland Papua), Indonesia.[7] The TPNPB declared responsibility for the attack, in which at least twenty-four Indonesian construction workers were killed and which the Indonesian government labeled "the Nduga massacre."(Indonesian language: Pembantaian Nduga) [8]
2022 Nogolait shooting[]
On 16 July 2022, a group of around twenty TPNPB gunmen entered the Kampung Nonggolait (or Nogolait) in Nduga Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia. The attackers opened fire on a grocer, and then shot seven other traders who were riding on a freight truck. Four bystanders were also shot.[9] On many occasions, rebel spokesman Sebby Sambom has said the group’s fighters had warned civilians to leave areas the rebels consider a “war zone.” He also urged workers to leave all Indonesian government projects, or they would be considered part of the security forces. Indonesian authorities stated that the Free Papua Movement's military wing was responsible for the shooting, and specifically the Tabuni and Egianus Kogoya group.[9][10][11]
2023 Oksibil attacks[]
From 7 January until 12 January 2023, the TPNPB periodically attacked Oksibil, the seat of the Bintang Mountains Regency, in Highland Papua. According to the Regional Police of Papua, Bintang Mountains is one of seven regencies that are vulnerable to separatist attacks.[12]
2023 hostage taking[]
In February 2023, the TPNPB captured pilot Philip Mehrtens, who was employed by the Indonesian private charter airline company Susi Air and had landed his plane at the Paro Airport in the remote highlands of the Nduga regency of West Papua. Military authorities stated they had begun a search for the pilot and identified his approximate location when they were ambushed by the West Papua Liberation Army. At least six soldiers died, and twenty-one others fled into the jungle, according to military reports seen by journalists. The TPNB claimed they killed thirteen Indonesian soldiers.[13][14] The military authorities stated that one Indonesian soldier was killed, from a fall "into a deep ravine." In April 2023, the TPNPB issued a call to the New Zealand government for a negotiation about the pilot's release. They stated that New Zealand and the United Nations have an “obligation to urge the Indonesian Government to stop military operations” against them.[15][14]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "Ini Kata Menhan Soal Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata di Papua" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia. 15 March 2019. https://www.kemhan.go.id/itjen/2019/03/15/ini-kata-menhan-soal-kelompok-kriminal-bersenjata-di-papua.html.
- ↑ "Label Teroris untuk KKB Papua Akhirnya Jadi Nyata" (in id). April 2021. https://news.detik.com/berita/d-5551843/label-teroris-untuk-kkb-papua-akhirnya-jadi-nyata.
- ↑ Strangio, Sebastian. "In Papua Fighting, Indonesian Forces Claim Rebel Commander Killed". https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/in-papua-fighting-indonesian-forces-claim-rebel-commander-killed/.
- ↑ Perkasa, Vidhyandika Djati; Satria, Alif (7 May 2021). "Conflict Resolution in Papua and the Label of Terrorism". https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/conflict-resolution-in-papua-and-the-label-of-terrorism/.
- ↑ Baderi, Firdaus (27 January 2017). "Meski Goliath Tabuni Berulah, Pembangunan Papua Terus Berjalan" (in Indonesian). https://www.neraca.co.id/article/80360/meski-goliath-tabuni-berulah-pembangunan-papua-terus-berjalan.
- ↑ Nedabang, Alfons (4 January 2023). "KKB Papua - Juru Bicara TPNPB Sebby Sambom: Kami Tidak Akui Benny Wenda dan Damianus Yogi" (in id). https://kupang.tribunnews.com/2023/01/04/kkb-papua-juru-bicara-tpnpb-sebby-sambom-kami-tidak-akui-benny-wenda-dan-damianus-yogi.
- ↑ "Dozens killed in Papua attack". Radio NZ. 5 December 2018. https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/377500/dozens-killed-in-papua-attack.
- ↑ Smith, Mackenzie (5 December 2018). "West Papua Liberation Army claims responsibility for Papua killings". Radio NZ. https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/377548/west-papua-liberation-army-claims-responsibility-for-papua-killings.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kartono, Alfian (16 July 2022). "Gunmen kill 10 traders, hurt 2, in Indonesia's restive Papua". https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-8557eab22bda1e03bd3004d2703f31b9.
- ↑ Lamb, Kate (2022-07-16). "Nine shot dead in Indonesia's restive Papua, say police". In Mallard, William (in en). Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nine-shot-dead-indonesias-restive-papua-say-police-2022-07-16/.
- ↑ "Nine shot dead at Nduga in Papua's highlands" (in en-AU). ABC News. 2022-07-16. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-16/nine-shot-dead-in-papua-as-jakarta-laws-divide-region/101245076.
- ↑ Santoso, Audrey (11 January 2023). "Daftar Daerah Jadi Perhatian Polda Papua Terkait Kejahatan KKB" (in Indonesian). https://news.detik.com/berita/d-6509645/daftar-daerah-jadi-perhatian-polda-papua-terkait-kejahatan-kkb.
- ↑ "Rebel gunmen attack Indonesian troops searching for New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, leaving dozens missing". ABC Australia. 17 April 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-17/indonesia-phillip-mark-mehrtens-hostage-latest/102230266.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Whiteman, Hilary (7 April 2023). "Rebels holding New Zealand pilot hostage claim they’ve killed at least 13 Indonesian soldiers". CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/17/asia/indonesia-west-papua-rebels-nz-pilot-intl-hnk/index.html.
- ↑ Wirawan, Jerome; Wright, George (7 April 2023). "NZ pilot's kidnappers tell Indonesia to negotiate". BBC News. Jakarta & London. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65211724.
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